Displaceable target game



Sept. 4, 1951 H. F. WHEELER DISPLACEABLE TARGET GAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 28, 1945 mm N @C 1 m E t Q\ ..w \,N CA 2 a P L n 9 X i:l I l .l 1v ELL m 1 N. 9 m E x w 9 n a \m? A ||fi I 1 l 1 l 1 1 ||n Q INVENTOR.

H. F. WH E ELE R BY CwZMA M GWQQ ATTORN EY.

' p 1951 H. F. WHEELER 2,567,002

DISPLACEABLE TARGET GAME Filed May 28, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 '6 .INVENTOR.-

H. F. WHEELER ATTORNEY.

:Patented Sept. 4, 1951 Henry F.

Wheeler, Richmond Heights, M0., as-

signor of one-half to A. Edward Gross, Richmond Heights, Mo.

Application May 28, 1945, Serial No. 596,153

Claims.

This invention relates to target games. A primary object is to create an interesting toy target game lacking the usual relatively high costs of manufacturing and assembling the various details.

A further object is to provide for special interest in aiming and shooting at the simple target device.

Another object is to produce a simple toy shooting device having cooperative details for the exercise or" skill and attention in aiming toward a toy target.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention comprises the specific combination and arrangement of details herein shown to illustrate one form of the invention. However, it is to be understood that the patent on this invention extends to all modifications more broadly described by terms employed in the claims hereunto appended.

Fig. l is a top view of the target device and its separately adjustable shooting device.

Fig. 2 is a section taken approximately on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail top view showing a slot in the top of the target support, and the top of a target sheet loosely arranged at an angle to said slot, so as to rest upon top surfaces at opposite sides of the slot. I

Fig. 4 is a companion side view of the target sheet shown in Fig. 3, with full lines showing the normal elevated position of the target, and dotted lines for the lower position, the target support being shown in section.

' Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing a separately adjustable bafile member.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 in Fig. 5.

Briefly stated, the target device comprises a support ":1 having any desired number of slots 8 to receive the targets. In some cases only one slot may be employed for only one target, but a more interesting game seems to appear in the use of a pluralityof slots 8 for the reception of targets, freely movable from one slot to another, so as to vary the locations of the targets. Fig. 1 shows relatively short slots 8, each adapted to receive only one target, and an elongated slot 9 where a plurality of targets may be readily arranged in different positions. I prefer to provide for such variations by forming a group of slots, of any desired length, that will enable the targets to be selectively located in various positions.

, I have shown a plurality of targets I0 in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive. Eachof these targets H) has a lower anchoring member I l in the form of a relatively narrow vertical tongue extending downwardly through one of said slots, so as to lie below the slotted support 1. Each of said targets i0 is also provided with extended abutment members l2 to be loosely seated on the top of said support I, at opposite sides of said lower anchoring member I I. To understand this point, the details of Figures 3 and 4 should be considered. The extensions l2 have bottom abutment edges which are located in oblique positions and loosely seated at opposite sides of the slot 8 shown in Figures 3 and 4. I

When a projectile is discharged onto any part of the target l0 (Figures 3 and 4) there will be a vibrational displacement of the target, which usually allows upper portions of the target to drop into the relatively wide slot 8, as suggested by dotted lines in Fig. 4. No special accuracy is required in making this simple target device. Each elongated slot is substantially wider and longer than the elongated target, said target being located at an acute angle to the adjacent slot, so as to occupy an oblique position across a relatively wide slot, as shown most clearly at 8 and ID in Fig. 3. The target is thus supported on its oblique abutment edges at thebottoms of the members I2 which extend from opposite sides of the depending member II. In this specific arrangement of details, the target In is movable from its oblique position (Fig. 3) to a displaced position parallel with the slot 8, thereby shifting the oblique abutment edges from positions at opposite sides of the slot to positions directly above said slot, so as to drop the target into the slot.

More specifically stated, an extremely simple and very interesting device of this kind may include a simple box made of paper or other inexpensive sheet material having its details arranged as shown in Figures 1 and 2, said box having a supporting wall 1 provided with a group of slots to receive the targets, a lower wall I3 below said wall I, and relatively narrow deflecting walls I4 and [5 extending downwardly from the sides and rear of said slotted supporting wall I to form the side and rear walls of the box. The simple targets I0 can be made of inexpensive sheet material exposed above and below the slots 8, while loosely seated at opposite sides of the respective slots, and there may be excess spaces at the slots to provide for selective variations in arranging the target sheets.

The lower target members H are preferably exposed below the slotted supporting wall I, and

in testing this form of the invention, I have found it desirable to provide for free rocking movements at the lower ends of said target members I I, as shown by the curved lower edge I6 in Fig. 4.

Another detail of interest to those who aim at the lower extended target members II (Figures 2 and 4) appears in a relatively large baffle sheet I! shown in Figures 5 and 6. This bafiie sheet I! is freely movable into and out of any of the slots 8 and 9, and it has an enlarged extension I8 to be removably seated on the top of the supporting sheet 1. The extension I8 is preferably curved:

at the bottom to provide for free rocking movements when the baflie I7 is hit; by aprojectile. However, the player derives no credit score for striking this large bafile sheet I'I. Said sheet I! is to be selectively located in front, of a selected target member I I and thereby give a special score to a player who causes the projectile to rebound from one or more of the deflecting walls I4 or I5 (Fig. 1), and then strike a target member II behind the large baflle i TI.

A very desirable cooperative detail of this game appears in the shooting device shown in Figures 1 and 2. This device comprises a cylinder 20 from which toy projectiles 2I are discharged toward the loose targets. The cylinder 20 has a flat base and it is freely slidable to any desired aiming position on the table top 22 (Fig. 2) which supports the target device. Said cylinder 29 has an upwardly extending recess 23, open at the top to provide a sight opening, an inclined mirror 24 confined within said sight opening as shown in Fig. 2, and a horizontally disposed opening 25 at the front of said inclined mirror exposed in the direction of discharge from said cylinder. The openings and mirror are arranged for aiming the projectiles toward selected portions of the targets.

The cylinder 20 is provided with a longitudinal bore 26, and a plunger rod 2'! slidable therein to discharge the projectiles. A magazine 28 extends upwardly from the path of said plunger to receive a vertical row-pf projectiles-, preferably in the form of balls 21. As shown in Fig. 2, this magazine is open at the top to receive the projectiles, and the lowest projectile normally rests upon the top ofthe plunger 21. However, this plunger has an operating members!) at its outer end to be grasped and pulled to the left of the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby releasing the balls 2I, andallowing the lowest ball to drop into a recess M at the bottom of the bore 26. Any suitable spring device may be employed to forcibly discharge the projectile when the operating member 30. is released. For example, a metallic spring or a strip of rubber 32 may connect the plunger rod 27 to the cylinder 20, as shown in Fig. 2. It will be observed that the shooting device comprising the freely slidable cylinder 20 carrying the mirror 24, is universally adjustable to any desired aiming position in front oftlie open margin'of the target device.

The box which normally supports the targets may be conveniently employed as a container for shipment or storage of the loose target members, and the closed rear portion of this box may be provided with feet 34 as shown in Figures land 2, to form an inclined bottom for freereturn of balls to the open frontportion of the box. In Fig. 2, the front edge of the inclined bottom I3 is beveled to avoid the presence of an abrupt obstruction at this edge.

In the cooperative arrangement of specific details shown by Figures land 2, the shooting de- 4 vice is a separate and distinct unit having no at tachment to the box which supports the target sheets. This shooting device is freely slidable on the separate table top 22 (Fig. 2) to any de sired aiming position beyond the open front of said box, so as to provide for universal adjust ment in aiming at selected target members I I, or in carefully aiming toward one of the abutment walls I4 or I5 from which the projectile may rebound and strike various targets, including a target member II behind the large baffle I'I.

The sight opening 23 (Figures 1 and 2) is formed in an upward extension 35 integral with but in front of the magazine 28, and between the magazine and the discharge end portion of the cylinder 20, so that the magazine will not interfere with sighting through the mirror. This mirror Z-tmay be confined in the sight opening 23 at an angle of about .45 degrees.

I claim:

1. A target gamecomprisinga supporting sheet having elongated" slots to receive the displaced targets, a plurality of separate target sheets made of'material thin enough to move into and out of said slots, each of said separate target sheets having exposed upper portions located above the top of said supporting sheet, and a lower missile receiving member extending downwardly from said exposed upper portions, so as to extend through one of the slots and'lie below the supporting sheet, the exposed upper portions of each target sheet being elongated and provided with extensions at opposite sides of its lower missile receiving member, the extensions being located at an acute angle to and loosely seated at opposite sides of the slot, so, as to loosely support the target. sheet at said opposite sides, and the lower missile receiving members of the targets being exposed below said supporting sheet to receive projectiles from a shooting device.

2. A target game comprising asupport in the form of a. box having elongated slots-in its top wall to receive the displaced targets, a plurality of separate targets each having extended abutments located at an acute angle to the slots and loosely seated onthe top of said top wall, at op.- posite sidesof onefif saidslots, so .asto movably support the targets, and a lower target member extending downwardly between-said abutments so as; .to extend through and lie below the slot, the-loosely seated targets being movable into said;1SlOts in response to displacements of their extended abutments, said box being open at one edge of expose the lower, target members, and thereby provide. for aiming t Wardsaid lower target members.

3. A target game comprising a support in the form of abox. having a supporting; wall provided with elongated slots to receivev the displaced targets, a lower wall below said slotted supporting wall, and relatively narrow deflecting walls extending downwardly from the sides and rear of said slotted supporting wall to deflect the missles and form the side and rear walls of the box, the front of said box being open to receive andreturn projectiles discharged toward the targets, a plurality of separate targets, each having extended abutments located at an acute angle to the slots and loosely seated on the top of said slotted supporting wall at opposite sides ofone of said slots, so as to loosely support the targets, and a lower missile receiving member extending downwardly between said abutments so as to extend through and lie below the slot,

the lower missile receiving members being exposed below said slotted supporting wall.

4. A target game comprising an approximately horizontal supporting sheet having a group of slots to receive the targets, a group of separate target sheets made of sheet material thin enough to move into and out of said slots, each of said separate target sheets having exposed upper portions located above the top of said supporting sheet, and a lower target member extending downwardly from its exposed upper portions, so as to extend through one of the slots and lie below the supporting sheet, the exposed upper portions of each target sheet being provided with extensions at opposite sides of its lower target member, the extensions being loosely seated at opposite sides of the slot, so as to loosely support the target sheet at said opposite sides, and a detachable baffle sheet movable into and out of selected slots of said supporting sheet to interfere with aims toward selected target members, said detachable bafile sheet having an extension removably seated on said supporting sheet.

5. A target game comprising an elongated target, a support having an elongated slot into which the target is dropped, said slot being substantially wider and longer than the target, said target being located at an acute angle to said slot so as to occupy an oblique position across the elongated slot, said target having a depending member located within the slot, and oblique abutments extending from opposite sides of said depending member so as to rest upon top portions of the support at opposite sides of said elongated slot, and said target being movable from said oblique position to a displaced position parallel with the elongated slot, thereby shifting said oblique abutments to positions directly above said elongated slot.

HENRY F. WHEELER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

